Day One - Hackney to Dover

Well, we started at last.

Daily statistics
Distance cycled: 75.2 miles
Time on road: 6.00hrs
Average speed: 12.4 mph
Max speed: 35.00mph
Faults: none
Injuries: None

Had a great send off from the Headway House - in addition to family and friends and staff and volunteers - we had a group of attenders who were all standing outside in the rain to wave us off! Pity Martin wasn't there - we had to make our own tea!

Did I mention that it was raining?? We left in the rain and cycled all the way to Rochester before it stopped. I spent the morning thinking positive thoughts about cycling in the rain:-

• It kept us cool
• It was a lot better than being in Lafayette Louisiana (where I lived for three years) suffering from Hurricane Gustav
• It kept us Hydrated
• It could have been cold

Lunch in a cafe called Ramo's in Strood - eggs, bacon, beans and chips!! magic!! After lunch we carried on towards Dover with mild indigestion (Oli says his was more than mild!) - the rain had mostly stopped - in fact about 15 miles from Dover the Sun came out - Oli said that it was because we were closer to France!

Made it to Dover in one piece after 19 miles riding on the dual carriageway - because it saved miles - and arrived in blue skies and sunshine. Travel inn for the night and a pint of Guinness / Cider to celebrate. Started watching the TV weather forecast but then decided there was no point, we'll be cycling whether rain or shine - or headwinds - and it is probably best not to know.

Early start for the ferry in the morning so off to discover who wins the snoring competition!